Direct drawrod



F. E. RICE DIRECT DRAwRoD 4Filed Ilarch 6, 1939 Aug. 6, 1940.

lllllllllnvlntvrnlnlfvlfllfllfninfill!!! Patented Aug. 6, 1940 l 30 with` 110W restricting vice may -be inserted UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE DIRECT DRAWROD Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 6, 1939,

Serial No. 260,018

2 Claims. (Cl. 13S-40) The present invention relates to a direct drawrod and. more particularly to a unitary device ing flow` through such tube or rod.

Recent developments in beer'and ale dispensation have been directed towards means for dihas for an object the adapted to be inserted 1n a draft tube or rod for controlling liquid ow therethrough, together with meansy for frictionally retaining the restrictor inv place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unit device which in itself is `formed means in it, and which dein a pipe, tube or draft rod and thereinheld by friction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a restrictor in the form of a cartridge having self-contained means lfor restricting flow through it, which cartridge is insertable in a draft tube or rod, and which cartridge carries a split expansible and contractible ring for, frictionally engaging the wall of the tube or rod to hold the cartridge in place. 1 t i A still further object ofthe present invention is to provide a self-contained flow restrictor insertable in a tube orpipe with a close fit, equipmembers suiiiciently to make the device selfcleaning.

The invention has for an additional object the provision of a tubular member, apertured end caps for iiuid entrance and exit, and a column of balls between the caps oiering maximum frictional surface area for a given length of tube.

'respect to another, thereby maintaining the sur-` faces of the. balls sufficiently clean for long periods of time.

thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a broken isometric view of a restrictor showing it asit is ready for insertion in a draft tube or rod.

Figure 2 is a view tion through a draft tube or rod and an elevaor rod which is adjacent the faucet.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal axial secthe draft tube or rod B, with the tion through the restrictor, showing the end members and the single column of balls arranged between the end members.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 3, with the adjacent ball removed.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line V--V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse substantially in the plane VI-VI of Figure 3.

The drawing will sectional view taken indicated by the line now be explained.

a direct draw tap rod or tube device for directly drawing beer from a keg and discloses a faucet structure represented generally at A, a draft tube or rod B with a shell C surrounding the upper end of the tube or rod B adjacent the faucet A, which shell is utilized for heat insulating the portion of the draft tube or rod between the beer barrel and the faucet A. As illustrated, the faucet structure A is of conventional form and arrangement and is provided with a neck I having a threaded opening 2 for receiving the upper end of the draft tube or rod B in connected relationship. Above the portion 2, the neck is bored and threaded at 3 to receive a closure plug 4. Below the threaded portion 2, the neck is internally bored and threaded at 5 to receive the threaded portion 6 of a closure member 1 which surrounds the draft tube or rod B and to which the upper end of the shell C is secured in any suitable manner. The lower end of the shell C is closed by an end member 8 which surrounds the draft tube or rod B and is suitably secured to the lower end of the shell. This construction provides a space 9 surrounding the draft tube or rod B within the length of the shell, useful for insulating purposes. l

As constructed, the plug or y wardly extending cylindrical skirt portion III provided with apertures II, which portion is shown as entered within the upper extremity of apertures II in register with the hollow portion I2 of the neck, so that beer may enter the faucet structure A for dispensation through the nozzle I3 as the handle I4 is manipulated in the usual manner.

The restrictor of the present invention comprises a tubular body I5 having open ends, which ends are interiorly threaded to receive end members IB and I1. `The end member I6 is at the entrance end of the body I5 and is shown as having a head portion I8, the diameter of which coincides with the outer diameter of the tubular body I5, and a reduced portion I9 exteriorly threaded to engage the threads in the end of the tubular body, as shown. Inwardly of the portion I9, the end member has a neck portion 2D ofl less diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular body I5, with that portion of the end member between the portions 20 and I9 provided with lateral openings 2l. The interior ofthe member I6 is bored, so that fluid may enter from below, as viewed in Figure 3, to the interior of the tubular body through the lateral outlet 2I as well as through the bore 22. The fact that the outer diameter of the neck portion 2U is less than the interior diameter of the tubular member allows the liquid to enter the interior of the body above the cap or end member, as viewed in Figure 3, and as carried out in practice When cap 4 has a downsuch device is constructed in a draft tube or rod, such as illustrated in Figure 2.

The end member I1 at the upper or opposite end of the tubular body I5 is of like construction, except as to dimensions, and constitutes liquid exit from the tubular body I5.

Conned within the tubular body I5, between the end members I6 and I1, in columnar form, are balls 23. The diameters of the balls 23 are such` that the balls retained in columnar form,

and yet permittedr slight displacement from the vertical, so that a slight shifting movement may take place between adjacent balls, due to force of fluid passing through the body I 5, which movement is found useful in keeping the surfaces of the balls clean.

The head I8 of the entrance end cap I6 is provided with an annular recess 24. In this recess is a split ring 25, which ring is expansible and contractible, in a manner well understood. The ends of the ringat the split are preferably inclined as at 26. Normally, when the device or restrictor is out of a tube or rod, the ring 25 is expanded so that its exterior diameter is greater than the vexterior diameter of the end member I5 and the tubular body I5, as illustrated in Figure l, and which is wellunderstood.

When the device is inserted in a tube or rod, the ring is compressed and, because of its tendency to expand, seals the joint between the restrictor body I5 and the interior wall of the tube or rod B to prevent entry of liquid into this space. At the same time the function of the ring is to frictionally hold the restrictor in place within the draft tube or rod B.

By the means of the construction just described, it will be apparent that the restrictor may be placed anywhere within the length ofa draft tube or rod and function perfectly. Such invention is accomplished by provision of the split ring 25. v

It is quite obvious, therefore, that all liquid entering the lower end of the draft rod or tube B, through the apertured end closure member 2B will have to pass through the interior of the restrictor, entering through the entrance end member I6 and escaping through the exit end. member I1, and thence to the faucet A.

Utilization of a series of balls arranged in columnar form provides alternating areas of maximum and minimum extent, providing a plurality of such spaces,'thereby preventing turbulence of the liquid issuing from the nozzle I3 whenever the valve in the faucet A is opened by manipulation of the handle I4. Furthermore, the provision of these alternating areas of maximum and minimum reduces the pressure or velocity of the liquid passing through the tubular body I5, so that the beer issues from the faucet I3 in a quiescent condition without much foam and under low pressure.

It is to be understood that the maximum and minimum areas, just described, depend on the diameters of theballs and the inside diameter of the tubular body I5.

The exterior diameter ofthe tubular body I5 is designed to snugly fit within the draft tube or rod B.

The end members I6 and I1 are preferably threaded into the ends of the tubular body I5 so as to be removable, to thereby enable disassembly of the complete restrictor structure for proper cleaning and replacement of worn parts, if such becomes necessary.

It has been found in practice, however, that too 2,210,634 these end members might be permanently secured to the ends of the tubular body, as there is sufficient agitation of the balls occasioned by the force of the liquid entering the tubular body to maintain the same in clean condition.

The force of the liquid passing through the tubular body I5 tends to rotate the several balls. Such tendency is utilized, as before stated,` in maintaining the cleanliness of the interior of vthe body. The disposition of the single column of balls is such that the columnar form'is preserved while allowing slight relative movement, so that there is no probability of the restrictor becoming inoperative.

The areas of minimum amount are substantially in line with the diameters of the balls, and the areas of maximum amount in the tangent between any two balls. The curvatures of the balls cooperate with the interior wall of the tubular body i5 to provide these spaces, as described, so that the liquid passing through the tubular body from its entrance end to its exit end is passed successively through these areas of maximum and minimum extent.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be apparent that liquid entering the restrictor through the entrance member I6 will be separated, some issuing through the apertures Zlrin the side and another stream issuing through the upper end adjacent the lowermost of the balls, perhaps displacingv this ball suiiciently for escape to the interior of the body.

The columnar form of balls as illustrated in Figure 3 is the position assumed by the balls as liquid is flowing through the tubular body der pressure at its entrance end. It is to be understood that when the device is held vertically, as it is when in place in a draft tube or rod, and no liquid is passing through the device,the balls move slightly out of the position shown, some resting against the walls of the tubular body. In such event, the uppermost ball would i'all slightly away from the upper or exit end member I7. However, the space between the balls is such that under the said circumstances one ball willy not become displaced with reference to its next one, so that the column will remain generally in the form illustrated.

The gist of the present invention resides in the provision of a member having self-contained iiow restricting means, which member may be inserted as a unit structure in a draft tube or rod for controlling fiow through the tube or rod, without preparing the tube or rod in any manner for retaining the member.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to .be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents. may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A pressure reducer comprising a tubular member insertable in a draft tube or rod, a single column of balls within said member providing a maximum frictional surface area for a given length of said member, end closures in said member, said end closures having neckportions extending into the tube and constituting seats for retaining said balls in place, each of said end closures having a liquid passageway therethrough, and one of said end closures being provided with an exterior friction ring for holding the member in place in a draft rod.

In a conduit for conveying carbonated beverages having a dispensing faucet at its discharge end, a device comprising a tubular member, a column of balls within said member, each of said balls having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of said tubular member, end closures in said member each having neck portions extending thereinto, said neck portions arranged to provide laterally extending openings and an end seat for an adjacent ball, anda frictional ring for holding saiddevice in place when in combination with said conduit, said balls having diameters whose total equals the space between the seats of said end closures and which are free to move laterally for revolution thereby decreasing their total length, said balls being arranged to provide a pressure reducing liquid flow passageway through said device.

FRANK E. RICE. 

